Battlestar Galactica Renewed

From the “Well-Duh” Category: Sci-Fi channel has proven they aren’t ALL complete boobs (the idiots who canned Farscape excepted of course) and have renewed their latest hit, Battlestar Galactica for another season.

No mean feat considering only five episodes have aired.

28 replies on “Battlestar Galactica Renewed”

  1. Duh indeed.
    Three cheers for the good sci-fi to come.

    Which raises the question, why are the Galactica reviews a week behind? Further, why no StarGate reviews on b42?

    • Re: Duh indeed.

      Three cheers for the good sci-fi to come.

      Which raises the question, why are the Galactica reviews a week behind? Further, why no StarGate reviews on b42?

      Here’s one you can use for every episode ever: The stargate team goes to an alien world where everyone speaks modern american english. They get captured, escape by blowing something up (preferably something central to the local culture) and everything is wrapped up nicely in the last 10 minutes, resetting all the parameters.

      Happy? : )

      • Re: Duh indeed.

        Here’s one you can use for every episode ever: The stargate team goes to an alien world where everyone speaks modern american english. They get captured, escape by blowing something up (preferably something central to the local culture) and everything is wrapped up nicely in the last 10 minutes, resetting all the parameters.

        Hey, I saw that one too, it was ok.

        Damien

        • Re: Duh indeed.

          Hey, I saw that one too, it was ok.

          Damien

          I really liked the part where Te’alk said, “Indeed.”

          So long as we’re using the sarcasm meta-tags :)

          • Re: Duh indeed.

            Hey, I saw that one too, it was ok.

            Damien

            I really liked the part where Te’alk said, “Indeed.”

            So long as we’re using the sarcasm meta-tags :)

            Wait, didn’t that happen when they used the Ancient technology to escape? I coulda swore that happened in the other episode I’m thinking of.

      • Re: Duh indeed.
        While there are definitely aspects of SG1 over the years that have been done and done again, I think the first four seasons were fantastic. They managed to have big story arcs that were always present but didn’t have to tap into them for every episode. Despite the show being generally composed of one-offs, there were definitely episodes where, if you didn’t know what had happened before (sometimes very specific details), you would lose the texture.

        As for the always speaking English thing, it’s just the way it goes. They don’t get to use the hyper-futuristic Trek universal translator to explain things away, yet they can’t spend half the episode of every trip to learn the language (and they wouldn’t get half the audience if you had to rely on subtitles).

        Since Daniel’s death a couple of seasons back (sorry for the mini spoiler, those who are watching season by season on DVD) and, at about the same time, Richard Dean Anderson’s decision to reduce his screen time, the show hasn’t been nearly as good (and I haven’t watched regularly in about two years). Watch the first four seasons in order, though, and I think it’s a pretty fun ride.

        • Re: Duh indeed.

          As for the always speaking English thing, it’s just the way it goes. They don’t get to use the hyper-futuristic Trek universal translator to explain things away, yet they can’t spend half the episode of every trip to learn the language

          Except I think that’s just a lazy excuse. Why do we have to follow them on “first contact”? Was that ever exciting? I don’t recall that it was a totally unmissable event. Start the story weeks or months later after the learned to talk to them for instance. No problem.

          (and they wouldn’t get half the audience if you had to rely on subtitles).

          Americans really read that bad? That’s sad. And since it always happens, before someone says “you can’t read subtitles and watch the program at the same time” – that’sj ust an excuse as well, take the scandinavian countries, they subtitle everything, from soaps to drama, on tv and in the cinema, and millions from 10 to 90 read it without any problem, its as undistracing as listening to the sound while watching the picture. Its a practice thing.

          • Re: Duh indeed.

            Americans really read that bad? That’s sad. And since it always happens, before someone says “you can’t read subtitles and watch the program at the same time” – that’sj ust an excuse as well, take the scandinavian countries, they subtitle everything, from soaps to drama, on tv and in the cinema, and millions from 10 to 90 read it without any problem, its as undistracing as listening to the sound while watching the picture. Its a practice thing.

            Consider your example of Scandinavia. Within a couple hours drive from any point in your country there are how many other countries, each of which speaks a different language?

            Now consider the US. It’s possible to drive for several DAYS and never run into anyone who doesn’t speak English. So when you say it’s “a practice thing” it’s also a necessity thing. Americans aren’t exposed to as many people who speak languages other than English so there is no need for subtitles here other than as assistance for the deaf.

            Also consider that shows like Stargate have something like 20 episodes per season. Let’s assume that 1/3rd of the episodes encounter new races/cultures with what should be their own distinct languages although most should speak some form of Goa’uld as lingua franca. Over the 8/9 seasons that’s more than 56 new languages that have to be created and studied by the actors for what amounts to less than 30 minutes of on screen time. That’s a lot of money being spent for what payoff exactly?

            • Re: Duh indeed.

              Now consider the US. It’s possible to drive for several DAYS and never run into anyone who doesn’t speak English.

              where the hell do you LIVE? can I MOVE there? I sometimes go for what seem like days and find that almost no one in a retail position DOES speak english. at least not intelligibly. Granted no one around here cares because the hispanic demographic is the one that spends all the money, but hey. I wanna move somewhere where I can understand the guy that sells me things. (this is, of course, part of why I do most of my shopping on the ‘net these days…)

            • Re: Duh indeed.

              Also consider that shows like Stargate have something like 20 episodes per season. Let’s assume that 1/3rd of the episodes encounter new races/cultures with what should be their own distinct languages although most should speak some form of Goa’uld as lingua franca. Over the 8/9 seasons that’s more than 56 new languages that have to be created and studied by the actors for what amounts to less than 30 minutes of on screen time. That’s a lot of money being spent for what payoff exactly?

              They can cheat – there are hundreds of existing human languages they could use. George Lucas did it, others have done it. Sure, it’s not massively authentic, but it’s a start, and considerably cheaper than creating new languages all the time.

        • Re: Duh indeed.

          As for the always speaking English thing, it’s just the way it goes. They don’t get to use the hyper-futuristic Trek universal translator to explain things away, yet they can’t spend half the episode of every trip to learn the language (and they wouldn’t get half the audience if you had to rely on subtitles).

          They don’t have a universal translator, but they seem to have missed a perfectly passable explaination for all the humans they meet speaking something very close to the same language. That is, the common lineage and subjugation under the Goa’uld.

          They could have mentioned at some point that all the SG team members learn that language, and do a little switcharoo where we, the audience, hear as english the parts of each world’s dialect that the SG teams can understand. Then only very rarely would any language barrier need to be addressed. Mostly just a few moments here or there as Daniel figures out that the new culture of the week rolls their r’s more or reverses verb-object order.

      • Re: Duh indeed.

        Here’s one you can use for every episode ever: The stargate team goes to an alien world where everyone speaks modern american english. They get captured, escape by blowing something up (preferably something central to the local culture) and everything is wrapped up nicely in the last 10 minutes, resetting all the parameters.

        Yeah, you try applying that formula to 8×18:
        Daniel taking a break between being dead and being ascended at Diner for supernational beings in the sky. Teal’c leading the kickout of the last of the Goauld before forming the Free Jaffa Nation. Sam sobbing into O’Neills manly arms as her father dies. And O’Neill kicking a blond out of his bed because he’d rather go fishing with Carter. And Carter asking her boyfriend to take a hike. And supernatural being Oma Desala fighting with light on the side of light *g*

        • Re: Duh indeed.
          I’d like to point out that the afformentioned Diner is the exact same one used in Dead Like Me.

    • Re: Duh indeed.

      Three cheers for the good sci-fi to come.

      Which raises the question, why are the Galactica reviews a week behind?
      Further, why no StarGate reviews on b42?

      Read the last BG review for the answer… the reviewer in Canada which is
      behind the US one week which is behind England a season….Just when you
      think the US was ‘worse’ off than UK, Canada goes and proves us wrong.

      • Re: Duh indeed.

        Three cheers for the good sci-fi to come.

        Which raises the question, why are the Galactica reviews a week behind?
        Further, why no StarGate reviews on b42?

        Read the last BG review for the answer… the reviewer in Canada which is
        behind the US one week which is behind England a season….Just when you
        think the US was ‘worse’ off than UK, Canada goes and proves us wrong.

        Yeah but they reviewed Andromeda for a while too …

        Atlantis is actually pretty decent. But yeah I’ve noticed if I check and it’s deep
        into the story and there is 10 min left that it’s super fast wrap up time.

        • Re: Duh indeed.

          But yeah I’ve noticed if I check and it’s deep
          into the story and there is 10 min left that it’s super fast wrap up time.

          Well, unless it’s a two parter – then they have the entire last half of the second episode to wrap stuff up in.

          Still, it’s not bad to put on in the background, as you don’t really have to pay attention and you can still pick up what’s going on

        • Re: Duh indeed.

          Three cheers for the good sci-fi to come.

          Which raises the question, why are the Galactica reviews a week behind?
          Further, why no StarGate reviews on b42?

          Read the last BG review for the answer… the reviewer in Canada which is
          behind the US one week which is behind England a season….Just when you
          think the US was ‘worse’ off than UK, Canada goes and proves us wrong.

          Yeah but they reviewed Andromeda for a while too …

          Atlantis is actually pretty decent. But yeah I’ve noticed if I check and it’s deep
          into the story and there is 10 min left that it’s super fast wrap up time.

          I used to have really high hopes abot Atlantis, the scene was set up for really quality sf and they definitely have a more solid story arc then stargate. Around the end of season one i had to admit that even if it’s good enough it won’t become what it could…I was very dissapointed about it. Speaking about the end of episode wrap-up, things went downhill for me the episode they meet an ancient, they talk, they come to atlantis for a visit, they have sex and then… nothing. Not even a call…
          Still, i like the humour. They have good writers, too bad they’re brainwashed :(

          • Re: Duh indeed.

            … the episode they meet an ancient, they talk, they come to atlantis for a visit, they have sex and then… nothing. Not even a call…

            I’ve been watching every episode as they come on and I don’t remember them meeting an ancient. Which episode is that?
            Did I somehow miss one?

            • Re: Duh indeed.

              I’ve been watching every episode as they come on and I don’t remember them meeting an ancient. Which episode is that?
              Did I somehow miss one?

              Episode 14 “Sanctuary”.

  2. Yaaaaaaaaahooooooooooooo
    They’ve made my month. I wonder if we’ll get it first in the UK again :)

  3. amazing
    I remember the amount of vitriol that was being spewed over the ‘remake’ of battlestar and it amazes me that the new series is actually doing well. Personally I have nothing against the series (no sci-fi) so I’ll be waiting for dvd’s. Just an idle comment.

    • Re: amazing

      I remember the amount of vitriol that was being spewed over the ‘remake’ of battlestar and it amazes me that the new series is actually doing well. Personally I have nothing against the series (no sci-fi) so I’ll be waiting for dvd’s. Just an idle comment.

      I think that the low expectations are part of the equation in the level of amazing quality they pulled off. The same way that the SW prequels are such a let down: Our hopes were so high, and he’s so far beneath what he’s prequelling. For this our hopes were low, and it’s so far above the originals (who were so. damn. cheezy), that it makes us overexcited. Kinda like what happened with the Xmen movie, I was really expecting something quite lame, and it turned out quite good, therefore enhancing the enjoyment.

      The lesson is: Pessimism leads to good surprises. Expectations lead to disapointment ;-)

      • Re: amazing

        I remember the amount of vitriol that was being spewed over the ‘remake’ of battlestar and it amazes me that the new series is actually doing well. Personally I have nothing against the series (no sci-fi) so I’ll be waiting for dvd’s. Just an idle comment.

        I think that the low expectations are part of the equation in the level of amazing quality they pulled off. The same way that the SW prequels are such a let down: Our hopes were so high, and he’s so far beneath what he’s prequelling. For this our hopes were low, and it’s so far above the originals (who were so. damn. cheezy), that it makes us overexcited. Kinda like what happened with the Xmen movie, I was really expecting something quite lame, and it turned out quite good, therefore enhancing the enjoyment.

        The lesson is: Pessimism leads to good surprises. Expectations lead to disapointment ;-)

        So Fantastic 4 will be a great movie then? ;-)

  4. Renewed or Extended
    As I recall, a season usually contains around 24+ episodes. There are only 13 of BG. So, are they planning on releasing another 11+ for this season AND 24 next season? Or are they just releasing a few more episodes a handful at a time like they have done with their other shows. Time between new episodes with all the reruns inbetween is what kills good story arcs.

    • Re: Renewed or Extended

      They’re using the same kind of model that HBO uses for most of its shows.

      13 episodes == 1 season

      Personally, I think that makes for tighter storytelling and more amped-up drama. With a 22-24 episode season, there’s too much need for filler eps because no one can seem to keep the tension going that long. Even B5 had filler eps.

      It also means they have the time to film the entire season before airing a single episode, which is another good thing, IMO, as it allows for better structuring.

    • Re: Renewed or Extended

      As I recall, a season usually contains around 24+ episodes.

      No, 22 is the most common but it’s really variable. A full season in the US is
      usually considered to have a number of episodes in the low 20s (the
      X-Files had seasons of anywhere from 19 to 24). Midseason
      replacements usually start with 13 episodes in the first year, as the
      broadcaster tests the water, and then full seasons of 22-ish eps in the
      following years. I’m hoping that BSG will follow that trend, but
      cable is Different, as HBO, Showtime, and USA have shown.

      The Brits have really irregular season lengths (and call them series, so you’ll
      have a 1st series, 2nd series, and so on) – Spooks (MI
      -5
      when rebroadcast in the US on A&E), for
      example, has only 10 episodes per season.

      For a more extreme example from basic cable in the US: look at USA’s
      The 4400,
      which had 5 episodes in its first season.

      • Re: Renewed or Extended

        For a more extreme example from basic cable in the US: look at USA’s
        The 4400,
        which had 5 episodes in its first season.

        You can look at it again next week on SciFi starting Tuesday night – I missed it before, so I’ll be taking a look.

Comments are closed.